A Tiger in the Virtual World
"Grandfather?"
"..."
Tae-hyun realized the situation the moment he heard the voice behind him. He quickly stood up.
"Ah, I should probably get going. It's time for the next scrim."
Grab!
Chairman Yoo and Yu Ji-soo grabbed Tae-hyun at the exact same time. Even Lee Da-bi joined in!
Where do you think you're going after making a mess like this?!
"G-Grandfather, why are you in Pan-On? You didn't even like games!"
Chairman Yoo looked like he was on the verge of tears. The "Tiger of the Business World," known for his terrifying, dignified presence! The man who could freeze the blood of countless executives with a single word! That very Chairman Yoo was now staring at Tae-hyun with a tearful face.
Please, just help me!
Seeing this, even the notorious Tae-hyun felt a pang of pity. How flustered must he be to not even get angry, but look like that?
"I'll explain that to you," Tae-hyun finally stepped in. "When I met the Elder last time, Pan-On came up. When I told him you played it too, he showed some interest. But I guess he felt a bit too shy to ask you to teach him directly. So he asked me for a favor instead."
Tae-hyun lied through his teeth without batting an eye.
"Actually, I sent him to Tyrum City to let him suffer a bit..."
This part was the absolute truth!
Chairman Yoo fumed inwardly. That punk is definitely speaking from the heart!
"I had no idea he'd run into you there. He said he hid his identity because he was embarrassed."
As Tae-hyun spun his tale, the color began to return to Chairman Yoo's face. This isn't the worst-case scenario! At least he wouldn't have to hear Ji-soo say things like, "Grandfather, I hate you!" or "Grandfather, you lied to me and tried to spy on me!"
"I-Is that what happened?"
"Yes. That's exactly it!" Tae-hyun said firmly.
Although Ji-soo was bewildered, she nodded.
I feel like there are some massive plot holes in this story... but it must be my imagination!
The power of rose-colored glasses patching up the plot holes! Thanks to that, Chairman Yoo escaped his crisis.
Whew...
It had been a long time since he broke out in a cold sweat like this. At his age, he felt like he was experiencing nothing but brand-new sensations in Pan-On!
"But, Hyung."
"Hyung?"
"?"
"???"
At Ji-soo's accidental slip, everyone around them stared at her. Ji-soo's face turned beet red.
Lee Da-bi asked Tae-hyun curiously, "What's going on here?"
"Well, it's a long and complicated story..."
"Oh, really? I just assumed that when you first met Ji-soo, you mistook her for a boy, and she was too embarrassed to correct you, so she pretended to be a guy and called you 'Hyung.' And since she got used to it, she accidentally called you 'Hyung' again just now."
Da-bi spoke as if she hadn't thought much of it, but...
It was a perfect, spot-on explanation!
"..."
"...Don't tell me that's actually it?"
"N-No, it's not?"
"...It is, isn't it."
Da-bi stared at Tae-hyun with a look that said, How can anyone with eyes make a mistake like that?
Tae-hyun writhed under her gaze. It was rare for Da-bi to look at him like that!
"You can guess what kind of underwear item someone is wearing even when they're fully wrapped in a cloak! How on earth did you mix that up?"
"I-I'm not that extreme!"
"I saw you do it last time! It's just because you don't pay attention. I'm telling you, you need to apply your observational skills to other things!"
Seeing Da-bi and Tae-hyun whispering to each other, Ji-soo puffed out her cheeks slightly.
Noticing this, Ju Ga-yeon intervened.
"Hello, Tae-hyun. I've heard a lot about you, but this is the first time we've met in person."
"Ah. Hello."
An exquisite maneuver to cut off his conversation with Da-bi while greeting him!
Tae-hyun shook Ga-yeon's hand.
"Come to think of it, it's been a while since I saw Sang-yun. What's he up to these days?"
"He's busy clearing his class quest right now. He's running around saying he's going to make a name for himself as a top ranker."
Although Tae-hyun had never met Ga-yeon in person, he knew her name because his friend Choi Sang-yun talked about her. Thus, Tae-hyun treated her quite politely.
From the outside, they looked like a handsome man and a beautiful woman having a pleasant chat!
Ji-soo's cheeks puffed out even more.
Oops! Ga-yeon quickly changed the subject.
"I saw your performance in the Sadiq Church subjugation quest. It was amazing."
"Oh? Did you participate too?"
"Yes. Ji-soo wanted to join..."
"Really? Thanks. Man, I didn't expect you to come help out like that..."
Tae-hyun patted Ji-soo on the shoulder, expressing his gratitude.
Seeing Ji-soo instantly turn shy and bashful, Ga-yeon thought to herself:
Is she really this easy?
To get that happy over a simple thank you!
"Y-You and Lee Se-yeon seemed to get along quite well..."
"Does that look like getting along to you? Do you have any idea how much trouble she's caused me..."
"?"
Tae-hyun stopped mid-complaint. To explain his relationship with Lee Se-yeon, he'd have to start all the way back from Pan-On 1. And if he did that, everyone else here would naturally end up listening!
"...Anyway, we're not close! We are definitely not on good terms!"
They seem pretty close to me.
They look like they get along.
They're totally close.
The backfire effect: the more Tae-hyun denied it, the more convinced everyone else became!
Seeing that no one believed him, Tae-hyun turned to Da-bi.
"Da-bi. Have the Power Warrior guild members spread rumors that Lee Se-yeon and I hate each other."
"I can do that, but I don't think it'll work. People will probably just say, 'Jealous haters are spreading fake rumors again.'"
"..."
Surrounded by enemies! Tae-hyun buried his face in his hands.
Lee Se-yeon...! You petty, underhanded...!
It wasn't actually Lee Se-yeon's fault, but still!
"So, what are your plans after this, Tae-hyun?"
"I was planning to head back to the Atali Kingdom once the scrims are over."
"Ah!" Ji-soo looked at Tae-hyun in dismay. "But you just got here..."
"She's right! Stay a bit longer!" Da-bi said, holding up a plump pouch of gold.
Tae-hyun lightly ignored Da-bi and replied, "I have a quest I was working on, so I need to go finish it. Besides, there's not much to gain from doing scrims here anyway."
The experience points here could be considered a lot or a little depending on the person, but one thing was certain:
For Tae-hyun, it was far too little!!
Trying to level up with this pocket change of exp is just foolish...
Tae-hyun's plan was to finish the scrims quickly and get moving.
Seeing Ji-soo's disappointed face, Ga-yeon whispered to her, "Are you okay? Do you want to go to the kingdom with him?"
"No, it's fine. We have to prepare for the tournament too. We'll be back here anyway once the main tournament starts..."
Ji-soo shook her head. Disappointment was disappointment, but she had her teammates to consider. She couldn't impose on the people who were looking after her!
Chairman Yoo was deeply moved by this.
To think she's so diligent and responsible...!
Before preparing for the next scrim, Cain asked Tae-hyun, "Hey, by the way, Lee Se-yeon asked me earlier if I could give her a hint about your hidden combo. What was she talking about?"
"..."
Jung Ji-yong. The Chief Secretary of Yuseong Group.
Simply calling him a chief secretary might make the title sound light, but when that chief secretary belonged to Yuseong Group, the meaning was entirely different.
He held the absolute trust of the Chairman and was one of the key brains shaping the group's future strategies alongside President Yu Seong-woo!
Presidents of ordinary mid-sized companies couldn't even lift their heads in front of him, and even the directors of Yuseong Group treated Jung Ji-yong with utmost caution.
He was the one man who could speak directly to Chairman Yoo.
And right now, that very Jung Ji-yong was in a state of flustered panic.
"Chief, what's wrong?"
"I received a call from the Chairman. He told me to come directly to his residence! There must be something of grave importance happening."
"C-Could it be...! Did some kind of trouble arise...?"
"It's highly possible."
Jung Ji-yong nodded, his face hardening.
The atmosphere among his subordinates instantly turned tense.
"Please be careful, Chief!"
"Right!"
Whenever he went to meet Chairman Yoo, he had to be fully prepared. Going in half-cocked would only result in a thunderous scolding!
The reason Jung Ji-yong was able to earn the Chairman's trust was precisely because he was such a meticulous man.
"Chairman! Good day!"
Arriving at Chairman Yoo's estate, Jung Ji-yong bowed politely and stepped inside.
Huh?
Entering Chairman Yoo's study, Jung Ji-yong tilted his head in confusion.
There was a new object in the room that hadn't been there before.
That is definitely... a virtual reality capsule...
"Ah, you're here?"
"Yes, sir!"
"Good to see you looking well. Come, sit."
At Chairman Yoo's words, Jung Ji-yong corrected his posture and sat down. Of course, he didn't let his guard down. He remained alert, ready to react to anything!
"The reason I called you here today is..."
Thump, thump—
Jung Ji-yong's heart beat rapidly.
"I called you because I want us to play Pan-On together."
"...Pardon?"
Jung Ji-yong asked back blankly. It was a completely unexpected statement!
Chairman Yoo's eyebrows twitched slightly.
Jung Ji-yong panicked. I-I made a mistake...!
There was no way Chairman Yoo would call him over just to play a game for no reason. Jung Ji-yong's mind raced furiously. Why would the Chairman want to play Pan-On with him?
"A-Ah, of course! Chairman. Fantasy Online 2 currently holds an overwhelming position in the global gaming market. And Yuseong Electronics dominates the market for the E-RAM used in those virtual reality capsules. The more successful Fantasy Online becomes, the more profitable it is for Yuseong Electronics. You want us to experience Fantasy Online firsthand to brainstorm how we can establish a strategic partnership! Since it would be highly beneficial for both sides!"
"...Exactly!"
Chairman Yoo, who had been momentarily speechless, looked at Jung Ji-yong in admiration. What a brilliant lad!
I can just use that excuse whenever anyone else asks me from now on!
In truth, there was only one reason he had called Jung Ji-yong:
He had no one to play Pan-On with!
To be precise, he had no one he could boss around.
When he first started Pan-On, Chairman Yoo had wondered why people spent real money on a mere game. But then, Chairman Yoo had tasted the sweet nectar of pay-to-win.
Ah, so this is why people throw money at games!
The joy of acquiring gear that would normally be impossible to obtain! Having opened his eyes to this pleasure, Chairman Yoo could no longer stop.
Just paying to win feels a bit lacking, though. Isn't there something more? Hmm. Someone to help me in Pan-On...
Not a backstabbing punk like Tae-hyun, but a player who would serve him with absolute devotion!
Chairman Yoo immediately thought of the perfect candidate.
I can just call Ji-yong!
His loyal right hand, Jung Ji-yong!
Unaware of the Chairman's true intentions, Jung Ji-yong nodded with a look of deep admiration. That was how much he respected Chairman Yoo in his daily life.
"Then I shall log in at once!"
"Good. What level are you?"
"Pardon? I have never played Pan-On before..."
"Tsk. A newbie, are you?"
"Excuse me??"
Jung Ji-yong doubted his ears. He must have misheard, right?
"By the way, do you have any subordinates who are good at Pan-On?"
"...?"
Jung Ji-yong slowly began to realize that something was going very, very wrong.
The next day, an official memo was sent down to the secretariat under Jung Ji-yong's name.
Anyone who is Level 100 or higher in Pan-On 2, report to me immediately!
"????"
"?????"
The relatively young employees had all played Pan-On 2 or were actively playing it. Naturally, they had accounts...
But why on earth was the company asking for this?
"W-What is this? Is it safe to report this?"
"Isn't it bad to tell the company you have a high level in a game? Didn't Yuseong Group ruin a pro-gaming team in the past...?"
"Come on, would the company really scold us for having a high level? They must be looking for us because they have a use for it. I'm going to apply! I happen to meet the requirement."
"Me too, then!"